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Teaching
This is a research-based programme and there are no formal teaching requirements. All students on this programme will be members of the University’s Postgraduate School of Life Sciences (PSLS) which offer a wide variety of core skills and professional development training. Visit the Researcher Development page on the PSLS website for more information.
| One to one supervision | Each student is assigned a principal supervisor who has expertise in the student’s research area and is accessible to offer advice on all aspects of the PhD. The supervisor's main role at the LMB is to help students clarify their own ideas and guide their independent research efforts. PhD students are expected to have the capacity and enthusiasm for organising their own research and to work on their own initiative. Students are also supported by a second supervisor and University supervisor, who form the student's supervisory team. Regular meetings ensure students receive timely advice and support throughout their PhD. The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision. |
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Feedback
Day-to-day feedback is provided through one-on-one meetings, regular group meetings and informal interactions, and students can also expect to receive termly formal feedback reports via the University of Cambridge online feedback and reporting system.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
The thesis is a standalone piece of writing describing the student's research. It is written as a formal scientific document and is typically organised with the following sections: introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion. It is expected to make a significant contribution to existing knowledge in the field of study. All students have to defend their thesis by attending a viva voce examination conducted by two examiners, who will examine both the content of the thesis and the general field of knowledge within which it falls.
The thesis must not exceed 60,000 words (80,000 by special permission) excluding tables, footnotes, bibliography, and appendices.
Other
All full-time students are assessed before the end of the first year (before the end of the second year for part-time students) as a requirement for registration for a PhD. At the LMB this assessment has two parts:
- a short written report to be submitted nine months after the PhD start date (20 months for part-time students)
- an assessment meeting with two assessors within ten months of the PhD start date (within 22 months for part-time students)
Students must also present their research progress and future plans to the next cohort of students in October following their assessment.
All students undergo a yearly progress review to determine training needs and record progress and achievements.